Nursery Induction Booklet – Session 2022-23 – Translatable Using Google Translate
Beginning NURSERY Booklet – Miss Forbes – 2022-2023 – pdf file
Beginning NURSERY Booklet – Miss Forbes – 2022-2023 – Word file
Please use google translate to translate the information below.
Welcome to
Hanover Street School ELC
Beginning Nursery
(Early Learning & Childcare):
Information for Parents & Carers
2022/23
CONTENTS
- Welcome letter from the Senior Leadership Team, Mr Markey (HT) & Miss Forbes (DHT)
Priority Information
- Nursery Vision, Values & Aims
- Starting Nursery/ Nursery Staff Team
- Organisation of School Day, School Term & Holiday Dates
- Nursery Class and Times
- Transition – building up nursery hours gradually
- Snacks and Lunches
- What your child will need
Additional information, Linked to our School Vision/Acronym, “HANOVER ST”
H – Happy & Healthy
- Health Promoting School
- Sickness & Head Lice, etc.
- School Health Service
- Medication & Tooth Brushing – Childsmile!
- Outdoor Play and Learning and Sun Care
- Physical Education (P.E.) or “Gym”
A – Achieving
- Learning in Nursery
- Our Curriculum
- Learning Journeys
N – Nurturing
- The Principles of Nurture
- Key Worker Approach
- Birthdays
O – Our Communities
- Global Citizenship & English as an Additional Language (EAL) Service
V – Valued
- Communication
- Home/School Communication Methods
E – Engaged & Equitable
- Additional Support Needs (A.S.N.)
- Equal Opportunities and Inclusion
- Equality & Diversity
R – Respected & Responsible
- Praise and Positive Behaviour Management
- Complaints Procedure
- Expectations of Staff, Parents and Pupils
- Nursery Uniform, School Clothing Grants
- Pupil Belongings – Valuables/Jewellery, Name Labels
S – Safe
- Child Protection
- Health and Safety
- Entering/Leaving Nursery/School Building
- Accidents/First Aid
- Code of Practice for Jewellery in Physical Education
T – Teamwork
- Welcoming and Including Parents
- Parent Council, Parent Helpers, Stay & Play Sessions
| Hanover Street School
Beach Boulevard Aberdeen AB24 5HN Direct Dial: 01224 569880 |
Integrated Children & Family Services Operations Marischal College Broad Street Aberdeen, AB10 1AB Switchboard 03000 200 292 |
|
Dear Mums, Dads and Carers
Welcome to the Hanover Street School community!
We are delighted to welcome you and your family into our welcoming, nurturing atmosphere where we can work together, aiming to do the best we can for your children. We hope to give to the necessary information to make you and your child’s start in Nursery (Early Learning & Childcare) as smooth and as easy as possible.
Up until now, you have worked with Health Visitors in the development of your child. In this partnership, you may have heard of an important piece of legislation – the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, or more commonly known as the GIRFEC Approach.
Continuing from the work of the Health Visitor, Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools also work within, and often together, in this approach.
What is GIRFEC?
GIRFEC stands for ‘Getting It Right For Every Child’. It is the Scottish Government-led approach, based on the United Nations Convention for Rights of the Child (UNCRC). It aims to make sure that our children and young people – and their parents or carers – can get all the help and support they need from birth right through to age 18.
The wellbeing of children and young people is at the heart of the GIRFEC approach. Wellbeing is about how things are going for children in their lives. The GIRFEC approach uses eight words to describe what it looks like when things are going well – in other words whether a child is getting realised, the rights of being:
- Safe
- Healthy
- Achieving
- Nurtured
- Active
- Respected
- Responsible
- Included
These words can be used to find out where a child’s strengths lie and also, if there are concerns, to see where some advice, help or support might be needed. They help everyone to understand wellbeing in the same way, and use the same language to talk about it. You can expect to hear wellbeing referred to when your child’s health visitor or school contacts you.
These wellbeing words are often known as the SHANARRI indicators and illustrated in the SHANARRI wheel, which you may see dotted around the school and medical centres, etc.:
To raise awareness of these important wellbeing aims, we have used some of these words/themes in our school acronym, “HANOVER ST.” This presents our school’s vision, values and aims, in a meaningful and memorable form for our school community. You will read more about this on page 6.
In addition to the induction visits and other presentation information, we hope that this booklet will be a useful tool for you to refer to, leading up to your child starting with us for the nursery years. If you feel you require any further information at any point, please contact Miss Forbes at the school on the above phone numbers and email address or ask a member of our nursery or office teams.
Finally, thank you very much for your continued support in your child starting nursery and welcome to the team!
Yours sincerely
The Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
Mr Alan Markey Miss Gillian Forbes
Head Teacher Depute Head Teacher
NURSERY VISION, VALUES & AIMS
Vision Statement
Hanover Street School’s vision is to create a welcoming, friendly, happy and safe environment to enable our children to achieve to their full potential and become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible, effective contributors to society.
School Aims
Our School Aims are:
- to provide a welcoming, caring and friendly environment where children feel happy, safe and secure;
- to provide challenging and appropriate learning experiences to promote successful learners within a full and balanced curriculum;
- to promote responsibility, fairness, honesty and respect for others to enable children to become responsible citizens;
- to develop communication, co-operation, perseverance and resilience to create effective contributors to society;
- to encourage and develop good relationships between children, parents, staff and the wider school community.
We also have a slightly different vision, values and aims for our Early Learners (Nursery and P1), posted below:
School Charter and Acronym
To make the above vision and aims more meaningful and memorable to the whole school community, we display and simplify these aims in the charter below, which uses the acronym “HANOVER ST.”
H – Happy & Healthy
A – Achieving
N – Nurturing
O – Our Communities (Being part of & involved with them)
V – Valued
E – Equitable
R – Respected
S – Safe
T – Teamwork
*To detail this vision, most of this booklet is organised under these headings
STARTING NURSERY
Who will you meet, speak to or work with your child?
Staff
Head Teacher – Mr Alan Markey
Depute Head Teacher – Miss Gillian Forbes
School Administrator – Mrs Ann-marie Wilson
School Support Assistant –to be appointed
The Nursery Team
At any one time, there is a minimum of 5 practitioners in the nursery
(the minimum ratio is 1:8).
Nursery Lead: Mrs Sarah Lemmon, Senior Early Years Practitioner (SEYP)
EYPS: Mrs Luda Barkovska, Miss Gosia Krakos,
Mrs Rhonda Gauld, Mrs Kirsty McKendrick
Modern Apprentice EYP: Miss Ellie Fraser
Early Learning and Childcare Support Worker: Mrs Justyna Grzonka
*These staffing arrangements may change. You will be kept informed of any changes.
Throughout the year you may meet various teaching and Early Years Practitioner students working with us on placement.
Attendance
Children should attend nursery as much as possible. To keep the place allocated by the Early Years Team at Aberdeen City Council, each child should attend at least 3 days per week, unless unable to do so due to illness.
Please let the nursery know if your child is ill and unable to attend. Prolonged absence from nursery without reason may, unfortunately, result in the loss of your child’s nursery place.
NURSERY MODEL,
CLASSES & TIMES
School nurseries all have different capacities, dates and times.
Hanover Street School Nursery/ELC’s model is as below:
- 40 children’s places
- 38-week model, term time only
- 30 hours a week
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm
Entrance: Rear playground (follow lilac wall around to the left)
Exit: Rear Playground
Drop off – Lining up outside
Picking up – Soft finish and pick up from 2.30pm.
If families arrive late, we ask that you wait outside this door, until 9.30am where a member of nursery staff will come down and collect any latecomers.
*Staff’s priority at the start of sessions is welcoming and settling the children. Having this time of 9.30am will limit the movement of staff, allowing them more time to spend with the children, supporting quality play and learning.
We therefore ask that you are as punctual as possible.
Thank you. 😊
TRANSITION – BUILDING UP NURSERY HOURS GRADUALLY
Our aim is for, where possible, to not extend induction period to more than 3 weeks.
Aim is for ALL children/parents to:
- Access nursery in first week back (returner, transfer or induction visit)
- All returners to be accessing full session by end of week 2
- All transfers – children who have had their ante-pre year (9am to 3pm) at another nursery but new to Hanover Street, to be accessing full session by end of week 2
- All new pupils to be accessing short sessions by end of week 2, with full session by end of week 3 (unless further transition required)
| Week 1
Monday 22 August – Friday 26 August 2022 |
||
| Morning | Afternoon | |
| Mon 22 | In-Service Day – no pupils | |
| Tues 23 | Nursery Environment Set up – indoor and outdoor
No pupils |
|
| Wed 24 | Nursery Returners
9.00am to 12.30pm |
Nursery Transfers
(1.00pm – 3.00pm)
|
| Thurs 25 | Nursery Returners & Nursery Transfers
9.00am to 3.00pm *please note that we fully understand that some children will need a gradual build up back to full hours after the holidays, especially for those new to us here at Hanover Street. This will be decided on an individual basis, in discussion with parents. |
|
| Fri 26 | Nursery Returners & Nursery Transfers
9.00am – 3.00pm |
Parent/Carer Induction Meeting
for New Families |
| Week 2
Monday 29 August – Friday 2 September 2022 |
||
| Morning | Afternoon | |
| Mon 29 | Nursery Returners & Nursery Transfers
9.00am – 3.00pm
New Nursery Pupils – begin with 30-minute visits, then build up gradually over the week
|
|
| Tues 30 | ||
| Wed 31 | ||
| Thurs 1 | ||
| Fri 2 | ||
| Week 3
Monday 5 September – Friday 9 September 2022 |
||
| Morning | Afternoon | |
| Mon 5 | Nursery Returners & Nursery Transfers
9.00am – 3.00pm
New Nursery Pupils – continue to build up to a full session by Friday |
|
| Tues 6 | ||
| Wed 7 | ||
| Thurs 8 | ||
| Fri 9 | ||
For all families:
At drop off time…
- Please come into the relevant playground area, informing us which adult will pick them up. If someone arrives, who is different from the name written to collect the child, we will phone parents to gain verbal permission to take that child home, ensuring child safety.
- Please encourage your child to line up with their classmates, in their key/colour group.
- Please encourage your child to carry their own things.
- Do let the nursery team know any important information about your child to ensure a smooth transition into nursery.
At pick up time…
- Please stand back and wait for your child to be at the front of their line, for handing over to you.
- If a member of the nursery team has any information to share with you, we will speak to you at this time.
*It is very important that children are dropped off and collected on time.
Young children can become confused and upset if they are left at nursery once all their classmates have left.
As a nurturing school, we promote communication between children, children and adults, adults/adults, etc. We encourage mobile phones to be put away and spend these few minutes talking with your child about what they have done in nursery that day, what they’ve learned, what they’ve played with, new friends they’ve made, etc.
SCHOOL TERM AND HOLIDAY DATES
FOR SESSION 2022-2023
Further Information for sessions after 2022-2023 can be found on Aberdeen City Council Website: https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare/view-school-term-and-holiday-dates
In Service Days (these are included into each term below, also)
Monday 22 August 2022
Friday 18 November 2022
Tuesday 14 February 2023
Wednesday 15 February 2023
Tuesday 2 May 2023
Term 1 (8 weeks)
Tuesday 17 August 2022 to Friday 8 October 2022
In-service day – Monday 22 August 2022
Term starts – Tuesday 23 August 2022
September holiday – Friday 23 September to Monday 26 September 2022
Term ends – Friday 14 October 2022
October holiday – Monday 17 October to Friday 28 October 2022
Term 2 (8 weeks)
Monday 25 October 2022 to Tuesday 21 December 2022
Term starts – Monday 31 October 2022
In-service day – Friday 18 November 2022
Term ends – Thursday 22 December 2022
Christmas holiday – Friday 23 December 2022 to Friday 6 January 2023
Term 3 (12 weeks)
Thursday 6 January 2023 to Friday 1 April 2023
Term starts – Monday 9 January 2023
Mid-term holiday – Monday 13 February 2023
In-service day – Tuesday 14 February 2023
In-service day – Wednesday 15 February 2023
Term ends – Friday 31 March 2023
Spring holiday – Monday 3 April to Friday 14 April 2023
Term 4 (12 weeks)
Monday 18 April 2023 to Friday 1 July 2023
Term starts – Monday 17 April 2023
May Day holiday – Monday 1 May 2023
In-service day – Tuesday 2 May 2023
Term ends – Friday 7 July 2023
SNACKS AND LUNCHES
Snack will be available flexibly in the morning for children who have perhaps not had breakfast. (We thoroughly recommend a good breakfast is given at home– this snack is NOT a replacement for breakfast.)
All children will be encouraged to have snack in the afternoon.
Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme
The Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme provides the milk and fruit snack. This scheme is designed to improve the health and wellbeing of children.
What will each child be entitled to receive?
The scheme will fund a daily portion of milk (or approved non-dairy alternative) and healthy snack (a portion of fruit or vegetables) for children who spend 2 hours or more in an Early Learning and Childcare setting.
- 189 mls of first infant formula for children under 12 months
- 189mls (1/3 pint) – or a 200ml container- of plain fresh cow’s milk (whole milk for children 1 year and over, including the option of semi-skimmed milk for children 2 years and over)
- or, where children cannot consume cow’s milk for medical, ethical or religious reasons, plain fresh goat or sheep milk (whole milk for children 1 year and over or to include semi- skimmed milk for children 2 years)
- or where children cannot consume cow’s milk, goat’s milk and sheep’s milk for medical, ethical or religious reasons a specified unsweetened calcium-enriched non-dairy alternative;
- AND a healthy snack portion (fruit or vegetables) per child per day.
School Lunches
Children in nursery will be given lunch. These are free and are cooked on site by our Kitchen Team. Lunch will be served in the nursery by the nursery team, in 2 sittings, from approximately 11.30-12.15pm
Menus will be available for parents to view at the time, and on here also: https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare/view-school-meals-menu
Children will make their lunch choices daily, on entry to nursery, for numbers to be given to the kitchen by 9.30am for being coked to order.
*For further information regarding snack, lunch and healthy eating at Hanover Street School Nursery, ask to see the “Eating Well and Food Matters” Policy. You will be given opportunity to complete forms, etc., to let us know if your child has any allergies or religious reasons for avoiding certain foods. However, do keep us updated if this information changes throughout the session.
WHAT WILL YOUR CHILD NEED TO BRING TO NURSERY?
What to Bring
- Children should wear comfortable play clothes suitable for both in and outdoor activities.
- Please ALWAYS have a waterproof jacket
- Indoor and outdoor shoes (wellies are preferable for outside)
- A couple of changes of clothes (we will provide a cloth drawstring bag)
- Appropriate hat scarf, gloves , sun hat and sun cream for relevant weather
To aid the children with independence, clothes should be easily managed by your child when going to the toilet and dressing. Children may well get dirty at nursery – they are playing with paint, sand, water, mud and more! We ask that you do not send them to nursery wearing their ‘good clothes’.
Pupil Belongings – Valuables/Jewellery
Valuable possessions (including toys) should not be brought to nursery unless parents are prepared to accept the risk of damage or loss as the school is not insured for these purposes. Pupils are discouraged from wearing jewellery for health and safety reasons. Stud earrings are permitted but any other form of jewellery is not advisable. It is stressed that these measures are taken to ensure the safety of the children in our care.
Name Labels
It is important that all belongings are labelled. Lost property is emptied termly. Please label all shoes, jackets and uniforms to avoid loss of items.
Additional Information,
Linked to our School Vision/Acronym,
“HANOVER ST”
(For even more information, our full school handbook is available
on the school website)
H – HAPPY & HEALTHY
Health Promoting School
As a health promoting school we reinforce a positive message encouraging healthy habits to children through the activities, experiences, snacks and drinks provided. In doing so, we hope to support you, the parent, in developing good lifestyles choices and eating habits for your child.
Sickness
Please do not be persuaded by an unwell child that – “they want to come to nursery.” Bringing a sick child to nursery puts all the other children and staff at risk. Children should not attend school for 48 hours after the last bout of any vomiting or diarrhoea.
Especially in winter time, and with current COVID-19 concerns, how do you know if your child can come to nursery? How do you know if it’s the common cold, a common virus, or COVID-19?
Please see this letter from the Scottish Government which explains the differences, dated 31 August 2020: https://hanover.aberdeen.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Coronavirus-Jason-Leitch-Letter-on-testing-and-common-colds-31-August-2020.pdf
Head Lice
We encourage the regular checking of heads for live head lice and eggs (nits). We offer termly reminders via newsletters/text messages. If you receive a reminder this does not mean there is an “outbreak” in school. Please, if you discover live head lice, do inform the school so that we can monitor the spread of any infection, and whilst maintaining confidentiality, can make other parents aware. Our “Management of Head Lice Prevention & Infection Policy” is available on our school website.
Medication
If your child needs medication at school, whether this is regular or infrequent, we are not able to administer it until the relevant permission forms and instructions are completed. These can be collected at the school office. Our “Administration of Medication Policy” is on our school website.
Tooth Brushing & Fluoride Varnishing– Childsmile!
Childsmile aims to improve the oral health of children in Scotland and reduce health inequalities.
At Hanover Street, our tooth brushing programme begins in the nursery and continues through to the end of Primary 2. All the children are given their own toothbrush and adults dispense the toothpaste and supervise the brushing. Brushing takes place whenever it is suitable for the class but it is recommended half an hour before or after food.
A letter is given to parent/carers informing them of the school/nursery participating in the tooth brushing programme. *If you do not want your child to take part in this, please write to the school within 2 weeks of receiving the letter.
A consent pack will be sent from Childsmile regarding consenting for the fluoride varnish which happens twice a year.
Vision Screening
Vision teams come and check children’s vision in their pre-school year. These vision checks have considerably helped support children in their development, behaviour and learning.
Runny Noses
As I’m sure you can imagine we have many runny noses throughout the school year. We would thoroughly appreciate it if you could provide a box of tissues on occasion to encourage the best possible hygiene in class.
Outdoor Play and Learning
At Hanover Street School, we are developing our garden and outdoor areas so that it is a more meaningful place to play, learn and develop. We are also developing a “Wee Green Space” project, where we visit the beach regularly.
This will foster in children, as well as a love and respect of the environment, but also vital social and resilience skills.
“Ideally, we want to make the most of the unique and special nature of being outdoors. We need the variety provided by:
- The weather – imagine a world without rainbows: the sunshine and the rain are key ingredients.
- The seasons – these bring variety throughout the year, adding interest to our lives and festivals that celebrate the cyclical events.
- The space and freedom of the world beyond the classroom.
- The landscape – whether this is urban, wild, or somewhere in-between.”
Robertson, J. (2014). “Dirty Teaching.” Independent Thinking Press. Glasgow.
Please consider donating any old jackets/snowsuits/welly boots, etc.
Sun Care
We go outside to play every day.
Please, as part of the “getting ready for nursery routine”, apply sunscreen to exposed areas of your child’s skin, especially in summer time, and even on the duller days which can quickly become bright and strong with sunshine. In the case that you forget to apply sunscreen, the nursery may have some available for you to apply when you drop your child off. *If your child requires a certain type of sunscreen due to allergies, etc., please let us know so that we can purchase the relevant sun protection.
*images from Twinkl.com
A – ACHIEVING
Parents are a child’s first and most influential teachers. Due to your love, care and support, your child comes to nursery with lots of knowledge, skills and experiences that can be built upon and extended.
Because children learn through all of their experiences – in the family and community, pre-school centre, nursery and school – the curriculum aims to recognise and complement the contributions that these experiences can make.
Learning in Nursery
In nursery children learn through play and active learning: doing, thinking, investigating, exploring, and experiencing life events, through quality interaction, intervention and relationships, founded on their interests and abilities across a variety of contexts. These all combine to build the four capacities for each child.
At the heart of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence are the 4 capacities
- Successful Learners
- Confident Individuals
- Responsible Citizens
- Effective Contributors
How can play and active learning support development of the four capacities?
As active learners children can develop as:
- successful learners through using their imagination and creativity, tackling new experiences and learning from them, and developing important skills including literacy and numeracy through exploring and investigating while following their own interests
- confident individuals through succeeding in their activities, having the satisfaction of a task accomplished, learning about bouncing back from setbacks, and dealing safely with risk
- responsible citizens through encountering different ways of seeing the world, learning to share and give and take, learning to respect themselves and others, and taking part in making decisions
- effective contributors through playing together in leading or supporting roles, tackling problems, extending communication skills, taking part in sustained talking and thinking, and respecting the opinions of others.
Our Curriculum – Curriculum for Excellence
The curriculum works towards achieving these through the 8 subject areas listed:
Language
- Listening
- Talking
- Reading
- Writing
Mathematics
- Number, Money & Measurement
- Shape, Position & Movement
- Information Handling
Health and Wellbeing
- E., physical activity and sport
- substance misuse
- food and health
- relationships
Expressive Arts
- Drama
- Music
- Art
- Dance
Religious and Moral Education
- Christianity
- World religions
- Development of beliefs and values
Sciences
- Planet earth
- Forces, electricity and waves
- Biological systems
- Materials
Social Studies
- People, past events and societies
- People, place and environment
- People, society, economy and business
Technologies
- Technological developments in society
- ICT to enhance learning
- Computing science
- Food and textiles
- Craft, design, engineering and graphics
Curriculum Levels
Progression is indicated through curriculum levels, as detailed below. Most children in nursery will be working within the Early level. Curricular workshops will be available later in the session.
| Level | Stage |
| Early | The final two years of early learning and childcare before a child goes to school and P1, or later for some. |
| First | To the end of P4, but earlier or later for some. |
| Second | To the end of P7, but earlier or later for some. |
| Third | S1 to S3, but earlier for some. |
Learning Journey & Seesaw
As staff work with your child during the year they gather information regarding his/her progress and achievements. In nursery, these experiences and development of skills and knowledge are recorded in a child’s “Learning Journey”. Most of this information is held in your child’s key worker folder. Snapshots will be shared via the online platform, Seesaw. Please download this app, and ask the nursery team for a link, so that you can access your child’s Seesaw profile.
The Learning Journey is an open record of your child’s learning and development. It is a personal record of that unique child as it builds up a picture of what a child knows, understands, feels and can do. Each child will have a Learning Journey that we aim to include:
All About Me: a “passport” of information about the child, their likes/dislikes and their interests
Children’s work: photographs, pieces of work, paintings, etc.
Observations: formal observations, snapshot notes
Voices/Comments: most importantly, comments from the child, supported by comments or next steps from staff and parents
Curriculum: evidence of learning and development, linked to the curriculum
Home/school partnership: achievements at home or activities out of nursery
This information will also be shared with you through informal discussion, parent interviews and a written end of year report.
Achievements and Progress as a School
Each year, the school produces a Standards and Quality Report/Improvement Plan (SQUIP), identifying the strengths and positive areas of our school practices. Areas of development are then chosen in order to continuously improve our provision in the nursery and school.
Along with staff, parents and children will be involved in the evaluation and improvement process through each session.
*SQUIPs and related development plans are available
for viewing on our school website.
Monitoring Authorities
Our nurseries are regularly inspected by the Care Inspectorate and by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Schools (Education Scotland). As of May 2019, our most recent inspections have been:
- Care Inspectorate – February 2019
- Education Scotland/HMIe – May 2019, awaiting publication of report.
Copies of these inspection reports are available from
http://www.careinspectorate.com
and
https://education.gov.scot/what-we-do/inspection-and-review/reports
If you have any queries regarding these, you are able to contact:
Care Inspectorate,
48 Huntly Street
Aberdeen
AB10 1SH
0345 6009527
enquiries@careinspectorate.com
Education Scotland
Denholm House
Almondvale Business Park
Almondvale Way
Livingston
EH54 6GA
0131 244 4330
enquiries@educationscotland.gov.scot
N – NURTURING
What does “nurturing” this mean for you and your child?
Every child has different experiences of play and childcare and therefore form relationships in different ways, and separate with different levels of confidence. Settling into nursery is very different for each child and their needs are considered on an individual basis.
As a school, we are increasing our awareness of the ‘nurturing approach’ and embedding it further into our policies and practices. There are 6 principles of nurture (Lucas,S., Insley,K. and Buckland,G. (2006)), and how we realise these at Hanover Street Nursery is detailed below.
The Six Principles of Nurture
Children’s learning is understood developmentally:
Teachers and Early Years Practitioners use their expertise of child development and play in the Early Years, along with developing knowledge of attachment and brain development to differentiate opportunities for social and emotional learning of specific skills. Staff model respectful, consistent and positive interactions, believing that nurturing relationships bring about meaningful change.
The classroom offers a safe base:
The nursery team works together with parents/carers, pupils and other staff to develop a safe, welcoming, positive and respectful environment. Independence and children’s choice is promoted in a secure, well-organised and supportive environment, where additional structure and supervision is provided if/when necessary. Parents/carers are valued as part of the nursery community and staff are sensitive in maintaining key relationships.
The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing
Nursery staff aim to balance supporting self-esteem, providing challenge and developing resilience. Praise and positive reinforcement and feedback are given to children. Personal achievements (whether from home or nursery) are celebrated and shared. Children are given support when required. When your child needs care, comfort and guidance, we give it to them. We talk, we listen, and we look for solutions to any problems. In comfort, we give hugs, put arms round shoulders, give pats on backs, sit the children on our knee, etc., as the needs of the child dictate. Please, if you would like us not to hug your child in the event of them being upset, do let us know!
Language is a vital means of communication:
Staff listen, show empathy, care and have positive regard for all pupils. Language used to do this is adapted to suit the developmental needs of the child. Staff are aware of the importance of displaying and observing non-verbal language.
All behaviour is communication:
Staff will observe and “tune in” to children’s verbal and non-verbal language. Staff will work together with parents to explore the reason/function of more challenging behaviours, aiming to be restorative and focused on providing solutions.
The importance of transition in children’s lives:
The nursery team will communicate with parents and other relevant adults/agencies to support transitions and any potential disruptions in the lives of the children. Children will be involved in changes to routines and are supported to cope with these.
To promote and help embed the above principles, Hanover Street Nursery works a “Key Worker System”.
What is a Keyperson/Key Worker?
Definition:
A key person has special responsibility for a set amount of children. Parents and children will always know the name of their key person. This will be given to you at the start of your child’s first term.
Aim:
A key person will ensure that your child’s wellbeing and needs are recognised and met at each session.
Main Duties:
- To help your child settle at Hanover Street School Nursery
- Talk with parents about their child
- Keeping an extra special eye open to how your child is settling in at nursery
- Assisting your child to integrate into nursery if necessary
- To provide emotional needs to your child, if required
- To make sure, with carers and parents, that the child’s race, culture, religions, language and family values are being met.
- To observe, keep records and monitor the child’s progress and asking and encouraging parents to participate in their child’s development, further promoting it
- To feedback information that might be important to parents or any worries the key person has come across
- To continue to respect that the parent and child’s information is remaining confidential
- To work in conjunction with parents in a professional manner, in line with Aberdeen City Council, General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and Scottish Social Services Council (S.S.S.C) Codes of Conduct.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT A KEY PERSON DOES NOT
- Shadow the children throughout the session.
- Only work with the key children they have been allocated.
- Prevent other adults from developing a relationship with the key children they have been allocated.
How will we make the above happen?
- Regular informal/day-to-day sharing of information
- One-to-one meetings between parents and Key Worker after child has settled into nursery, to prepare a personal plan/care plan for your child
- Regular updating and discussion of the child’s learning journey (Seesaw Profile) with a minimum of termly parental involvement
- Stay and play sessions (COVID-19 restrictions dependant)
- Sharing of news and events via newsletters, other letters, meetings, website, etc.
Birthdays
Birthdays can be made part of the nursery day. A child’s birthday will be celebrated in class.
We would ask that you do not send in bought cakes. The birthday boy or girl will be made a fuss of at nursery but as a health promoting school we cannot accept sweets or party bags to hand out to our pupils. Thank you for respecting this.
O –OUR COMMUNITIES
(BEING PART OF & INVOLVED WITH THEM)
At Hanover Street, we believe we are part of and contribute to our communities on all levels:
- Local
- National; and
- International & Global
On our current school roll, over 55% of our pupils come from other cultures, speaking English as an additional language. We are therefore very well placed to promote the concepts of Learning for Sustainability and developing Global Citizens, a key part of Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence.
English as an Additional Language (EAL) Service
The EAL Service supports learning and teaching of pupils with a home language other than English (bilingual pupils) so that they reach their full potential. The Head Teacher will contact the EAL Service for an initial assessment visit to decide on the level of support the child will need. The service responds to referrals from schools in a flexible way through:
- consultation, initial assessment, advice on materials and staff support;
- teaching beginners’ groups at the EAL service premises or in their own schools;
- teaching pupils who have basic competence in English (Stage 2) and improved competence in English in the mainstream classroom from P1 to S6;
- teaching SQA English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) certificated classes.
Look here for more information on the EAL service: https://acceal.org.uk/
*Due to COVID-19, this service is advisory only.
V – VALUED
(communication and participation)
We value information from you so we can make your child feel and be included as much as possible. Please complete the Nursery Information Gathering Sheet – see example below.
This will highlight important information to the nursery team, and your child’s key worker in an easily, accessible form.
Parents and Home/School Communication
We consider our daily contact with you to be vitally important – time for us both to exchange information – for the benefit of your child. Please don’t rush away! It is helpful to share with staff any special events or problems happening out-with school – weddings, bereavements, family splits etc. If we are informed we can help your child should they become unsettled. With your consent, we can also be in contact with other appropriate agencies, to offer support to the wider family.
We have a variety of means of communication in nursery. These include:
- The main school office phone number (01224 569880) for general queries, arranging appointments/meetings, reporting absences, etc.
- The nursery mobile phone (07741 236509) for letting the nursery know directly about absences, since the main school line can become very busy.
- The school website http://hanover.aberdeen.sch.uk/ where the nursery has a page showing their learning and sharing relevant information. Here you can view the complete School Handbook, policies and other school, class and community information. You can also subscribe to receive email updates.
- The school has a Twitter account – follow us on @HanoverStSch
- Regular newsletters – paper copies are handed out on approximately a monthly basis, and these are also displayed on the school website
- GROUPCALL – a text message/emailing service where the school can contact you informally for brief messages
- SeeSaw – where your child’s individual learning and play experiences and achievements will be shared
*Please update the school and nursery as soon as possible
with any changes of address and especially, telephone number,
so that you can always be contacted in case of emergency.
Schools Information Line
Aberdeen City schools provide a telephone information service for parents/guardians. This is the Schools Information Line.
The main features of this service are: Emergency Arrangements Message for Parents and Guardians (To be used to inform parents/guardian of emergency arrangements and important announcements, e.g. early closure arising from adverse weather conditions/failure of heating system.)
Voicemail for Recording Non-urgent Messages from Parents/Guardians
The system also has the potential to record brief messages of a routine nature from parents/guardians. We are not using this feature.
List of Messages containing School Information
This could hold routine information for parents/guardians, e.g. the times for a Parents Night, School Concert details, etc.
Parents/Guardian can access these features by dialling this National Rate number: 0870 054 1999
A Council message will be heard followed by a request for a six-digit PIN number specific to Hanover Street School – this is: 011390.
Once connected, a voice will speak out the name of the school and a series of prompts will guide you to the appropriate options.
The cost of the class is no more than 10p/call (landline calls)
School Closure Website Address
Parents can access the School Closure list by going to www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/school-closures
Parents are also advised to listen to school closure announcements on North Sound, Original 106 and/or BBC Scotland radio stations.
E – ENGAGED & EQUITABLE
Delivering Excellence and Equity is a key aim in Scottish Education. It is supported by international, national and local legislation.
Additional Support Needs (A.S.N.)
We at Hanover Street aim to identify and support any additional support needs children may have, be it social, emotional, behavioural or academic, short or long-term. If you feel your child is requiring further support in any of these areas, please speak to the class teacher in the first instance. As a school, we can access the support of other agencies and professionals to support these needs. These may support individual children, but also the wider family.
Equal Opportunities and Inclusion
In line with Aberdeen City Council policy, we are committed to a policy of multi-cultural and anti-racist education.
Books, pictures, jigsaws, stories and rhymes are selected to show positive images of people of different races and cultures, and show girls, boys, men and women in a range of roles.
It is important that from the earliest stages children are helped to recognise that there are many different ways of seeing and understanding the world.
Our nursery environment and planned curriculum help us to ensure this can happen for your child.
R – RESPECTED & RESPONSIBLE
We always promote a respectful relationship and culture between:
- Pupils and pupils
- Pupils and all staff
- Pupils and parents
- Parents and all staff
- Pupils, parents and the wider community
Aberdeen City Council Schools are committed to becoming “Rights Respecting Schools (R.R.S)” where we make children, parents, staff and the wider community aware of the United Nations Convention for Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
We are a “Rights Committed (Bronze Level)” School. We aim to take R.R.S. further (to Silver or Gold level), embedding it into our curriculum and wider school activities. Look out for more information coming to you about this, soon!
Praise and Positive Behaviour Management
All young children respond favourably to praise and recognition.
Our staff will deal with your child in a kind and caring manner. Similarly, the children are encouraged to treat each other and adults with respect and to be kind and caring. We ask that parents co-operate with us in encouraging children, by offering praise when their child copes with a difficult situation, achieves a goal, masters a new skill or behaves well.
We have refreshed our Nursery’s Positive Relationships Behaviour Policy. We introduced the 5 golden values: Walk, Talk, Share, Care & Listen. The following posters are displayed in nursery and referred to often. Stickers rewarding these specific behaviours are sometimes given.
Each session, we try to extend this by developing a Nursery Charter detailing rights and respectful behaviours, linking our 5 golden values (or rules) and our School Vision.
Here are examples of what the 5 golden values mean and ways they are explained and illustrated in nursery. You will notice that they are all phrased positively, expressing to the children what we want them to do, rather than what not to do.
We are a nursery which encourages children to explore and challenge themselves. We try not to use the words “be careful” – we ask questions to support the children’s thinking in measuring and assessing their own risk.
However, we have one more important golden rule, which is only used when necessary:
To promote further listening, sharing, caring, walking and talking, and better play and learning, we have also introduced, “STOP means stop!”
STOP means stop!
| Expectation of Parents/Carers |
|
● Acknowledgement of parental role as prime/first educators ● To work together/in partnership with the school and other agencies ● Attendance and punctuality for pupils and parents (e.g. at start and end of day) ● For children to arrive, as far as possible, in a positive mind-set, appropriate labelled clothing/belongings, ready for learning (adequate sleep, nutrition, etc.) ● Modelling respectful behaviours – especially in and around school ● Open communication – share important information with us ● Support with homework, other learning tasks and home/school communication systems ● Discuss relationships and behaviours at home, with a positive mind-set ● Ask for support if/when required – we can access many agencies/provide some useful strategies to support at home ● Respect the confidentiality and needs of other children and families |
| Expectation of Pupils |
|
● Show respectful behaviour to ALL members of staff and pupils ● Choose safe behaviours, make others and yourself feel safe ● Focus on learning – it is the right of all ● Ask for help when you need it ● Use your best efforts ● Accept mistakes and failure – this is an important part of learning ● Listen to each other ● Valuing others’ opinions/feelings ● Respectful of people’s space ● Respectful of resources and property |
S – SAFE
Schools are required by law to report any suspected harm done to a child by possible abuse. Every school has a named senior member of staff appointed responsible for Child Protection matters. GIRFEC legislation refers to this as the ‘Named Person.’
In our school that person is the Head Teacher, Mr Markey. Or, in his absence, it is Miss Forbes, Depute Head Teacher.
Health and Safety
Safety takes a high priority in nursery. Our main school doors locked, this means that when you require entry you will have to ring for attention. Remember though, you are always welcome in school.
To further ensure the safety of children only a responsible adult can bring or collect them from nursery. Every child is signed in and out of nursery each day. Children will not be allowed to leave with anyone under the age of 16 or anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
When entering or leaving the nursery or school– please ensure the door closes behind you before you depart. We do not want little children sneaking out, following after you!
When travelling to and from school you can encourage good road safety habits by using the marked crossings, which are patrolled by our lollipop people and by always holding your child’s hand when around traffic.
We ask also that parents and children should not use the school car park/gate to enter the playground and that when entering/leaving school, that the school gate is shut behind you.
We ask also that when entering/leaving school, that the school gate is shut behind you and ask that parents and children should not use the school car park/gate to enter the playground.
School Security and Access for Parents
If your child has an accident in the nursery or becomes ill during the day, he/she will be treated by a first aider. For “head bumps”, your child will be given a head injury slip, which will inform you of the nature of the accident and the treatment given. We will attempt to notify you by telephone of any serious injuries. (Please ensure that you keep the school updated of any change in your emergency contact details/new mobile phone number.)
Insurance Cover
Please note: The Education Authority has no insurance cover to provide compensation in the event of a personal accident or death. It is the responsibility of the parents to insure their child, if they wish.
Code of Practice for Jewellery in Physical Education
Introduction
Aberdeen City Council (ACC) recognises its duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees and those affected by its activities. The wearing of personal effects, such as jewellery and watches, can present risks of injury to the person and / or others involved in an activity. Exposure to the risk of injury from such items can principally occur in Physical Education.
Code of Practice Aim
To ensure that employees and others, such as school pupils, taking part in Physical Education lessons are aware
- of the hazards of wearing jewellery & watches
- that control measures are in place to avoid the risk of injury
- that to enable individuals to understand that, as well as the right to protection, they also have to exercise responsibility
Code of Practice Scope
This policy applies to all Council schools where persons who are wearing jewellery and watches can potentially expose themselves and others to the risk of injury while taking part in Physical Education.
PROCEDURE
The following advice has been checked by our legal team. It applies to ALL body jewellery and watches and is to be followed by all schools.
- There should be risk assessments in place for all PE activities e.g. rugby, football, hockey, etc.
The risk assessments should be made specific to each activity. Wearing of jewellery should be identified as a hazard in each risk assessment with a subsequent control measure (exemption from activity, removal/cover-up of jewellery/watch, adjustment to activity, etc.). The risk assessments should be written.
- All schools should follow the advice of the Association for PE as follows:
The basic rule is that all jewellery should be removed as this then removes that particular hazard.
Where an item of jewellery cannot be removed then it is the adult teaching the group’s responsibility to try to establish a safe situation to enable participation by considering how, or if, the context can be made safe by amending the task, conditioning the activity or creating some other management strategy to make participation safe. Where safe participation cannot be assured then the pupil cannot take part in that element of the lesson.
It is good practice to regularly ask if anyone is wearing body jewellery. If they disclose this then the process of removal or considering whether safe participation can be made possible should apply.
If there is no disclosure but some body piercing is seen during the session then from that point the process above needs to be applied – remove, make safe or take no further participation in aspects of the session that would put the wearer or others at risk.
Pupils should remove their own jewellery. This should be made clear to parents and carers. If the child is unable to do this themselves, they should not wear any. School policy should explain this to parents from the outset.
- The basics of the above to be displayed in PE changing rooms, gyms etc.
- PE teachers should remind classes of this at the start of every lesson.
If teachers/schools follow the advice above, and risk assess, there should be no comeback if a pupil hides jewellery then has some jewellery related injury.
T – TEAMWORK
Welcoming and Including Parents
Finally, this induction is not simply all about your children! As parents, you are a hugely valued part of the school community and team – you have been your child’s first teachers and provide the main role-model in their lives. It therefore makes sense that we work together as much as possible.
So how can we work together?
PEEP Group
What is PEEP?
“PEEP” stands for Parents as Early Education Partners
What is a PEEP Group?
It’s very relaxed (and fun!) group sessions, with parents, children and teachers/educators.
We have a talk time, share ideas with parents/carers, sing songs and rhymes, read stories, and take part in creative play activities.
It helps strengthen relationships and promotes better learning in the natural home environment through everyday, inexpensive activities.
Who has created it? What is the peep learning together programme?
It has been researched and developed by the charity Peeple. https://www.peeple.org.uk/
Stay and Play Sessions
Exactly what it says… drop your child off at nursery, but stay, and PLAY!
You are welcome to join your child and the nursery in their learning. Parents are regularly given the opportunity to join in at “Stay and Play” sessions. Look out for the signing up sheets near the signing in sheets!
Parent Helpers
We hope that many of you will consider lending a hand as a parent helper in school, either on an ad hoc or regular basis. Aberdeen City Council requires all parent and adult helpers in school to complete a disclosure application before helping in school. If you’d like to help in any way, please see the class teacher.
Parent Council
Having your child enrolled at Hanover Street School means you are automatically a member of the Parent Forum.
The Parent Council is a group of parents who represent the voices and opinions of the wider forum. Our active Parent Council relies on the support of every parent in the school. Please try to help by becoming involved and supporting organised events. You will receive regular updates on its activities.
The role of the Parent Council is to:
- support the school in its work with pupils;
- represent the views of all parents;
- encourage links between the school, parents, pupils, pre-school groups and the wider community; and
- report back to all the parents in the school (parent forum)
Notes:
